Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-08-25
ADvERTIsINo RATES.


pointing 10 the rapid decline 81 the knights
of Labor. Master Workman POwderly de-
nies with much yehernence the statement
TAFT the order Is breaking up, but the facts
are against him. A circular signed by
number of the leading Knights has been
sent 10 all the local assemblies declaring
that In consequence of the wide departure
from the fundamental principles on which
the order of the knights OF Labor was
founded, there has been large decrease OK
men. brrship, and that there Will be Sill
.urther decrease unless the general assembly
which meets mt Minneapolis I'm October
n lles some important changes. One of the
branches Of the order in Massachusetts,
which formerly numbered 81, 900 members
has fallen away 10 1900. Another In
Chicago which once claimed 20, 600 members
has declined 10 abont one-tenth that num-
Der. Dissensions and murmurs Of revolt
are heard everywhere. The Socialist MEM
bers OF the order are dissatisfied with the
position of Mr.. Powderly and his chief as
sociates on the question nearest their hearts.
IL is understood that they (the Socialists)
will make determined effort at the Octo-
ber convention TO gain a controlling posi-
tion in the order They will rule or ruin.
Then that large section Of the Knights who
own allegiance 10 Gambrinus, the beer-god,
and other idols Of the kind are dissatisfied
with the rulings of the General Executive
Committee I'm favor OF temperance and t.
economy. They resent this interferencew
their ''rights" as unwarrantable and arbit-
rary, and propose TO do as they please I'm the
matter of wasting money and debauching
themselves with drink. Another element
of the knights, comprising the most intel
ligent and conservative members Of the or
der, are protesting against being involved
in so many senseless and needless "strikes." Z"
They have become tired Of paying assess
ments 20 support members who have LETT
work for trivial and absurd reasons and
whose places have been filed by others.
They dislike, too, being identified, In the
public mind, with the foolish, brutal, rio
tous element which predominates In many
of the labor assemblies A strong feeling OF
dissatisfaction exists also among the large
class of members who, acting against their
better Judgment, but yielding obedience 90
the commands of their leaders, have aban-
doned profitable positions 90 find themselves
at the last stranded high, out of employ
ment and out of money. They have been
duped and misled by ignorant and self-seek-
ing demagogues and left in the end 70 shit
for themselves with public sympathy a
gainst them, and in the midst Of all the an
tagonisms which their action has aroused.
Many are tired and disguised with the
leadership of the Quinns and Maguires, and
are beginning 70 ask themselves, whether IL
pays, after all, to retain a connection which
involves them in incessant quarrels and
bitter rivalries, compromises their standing
in the community ms men Of honor and in-
telligence, and yields them altogether more
kicks than halfpence. The independent,
ambitious, honest-minded American work.
man will not long submit 10 conditions like
these even for the sake of a contingent and
possible good.
These are some of the reasons why the
knights of Labor are declining. Some OF
them, like the dissatisfaction of the So
cialists, are creditable to the order, and
others are not. The chief causes of decline
are faults radical and organic in the struc-
ture of the order. Its conditions Of men,
bership were too broad, for one thing and
admitted to the order too many diverse ele-
ments. In theory, 1t seemed easy enough
TO find aims and common 20 bind together
in interest and sympathy the followers OF
all various trades and occupations inc luded
in the order Of Knights. There are aims
and ends, hundred things that would jus-
tify combination, concerted and resolute
action ON the part of all workers, OF
whatever SORT The great difficulty arises
in making right selection Of aims, and In
choosing the right course TO attain them.
Here is where the Knights made fatal mis-
take, but one inevitable from the com posi-
tion of the order. 1t was quite impossible
to bring an organization composed in part
of longshoremen and hod carriers up to the
high level of eatprinciples, and noble but
impracticable aims The occupations named
are useful and honorable in themselves, but
the men following them are unfortunately
not as rule gifted with high degree of intell-
igence or moral perception. Men of this char
acter need all the help and guidance which
right association can give but it is neith-
er safe nor wise TO place them in 70 position
where their numbers or influence may de-
termine or control the action of other men.
Because all work is noble, 1t does not follow
that all who work are noble men. We can
allow anything that is claimed for the worth
and dignity of labor, and still retain our
right to discriminate between what is good
and what is bad in the ranks of labor. The
order of Knights has declined simply be-
cause il failed to make this discrimination.
Proceeding on the fine principle that every
man who is capable of driving nail or
welding trowel is equally capable of be-
ing councillor and leader of men, the or
der has naturally found itself involved in
many ridiculous, senseless, and even crim-
inal proceedings. In an organization 30
composed, and with such ideas prevailing, &c
was perfectly natural that the blatant, con-
ceited, demagogic element should rush for
"sIu AnOo tic PIoininent pAdCcS anu conGrOk
as far rs possible the action of their fellows.
This is what has followed in the knights of
Labor, and what has given temporary
prominence to men of the stripe of Martin
Trans and the Quinns. This is the reason
why the order of knights has, in so many
cases, departed from those high and noble
lines of action which Mr.. Powderly has laid
down for it, and which he claimed it has
followed. Mr. Powderly is an able man,
but he cannot tie rope of sand and he can
not hold men to high principles who have
no principles at all worth mentioning-
Neac York Observer.
---aws@~-